My paid subscribers may have noticed that I missed three scheduled newsletters recently, something I haven’t done since the inception of this newsletter - simply because I couldn’t find the time to think or write. It kept bugging me at all hours of the day, but I simply had no bandwidth to sit down and write anything.
So let’s catch up on what’s been happening and the lessons I’ve learned through all of it.
I was solo parenting for two weeks.
What I noticed was how quickly my type A personality took over and my need to be the perfect Mum, perfect founder and perfect everything took over. I refused to let myself drop any balls.
For the first few nights I slept on average 2-3 hours a night so I could stay on top of work, cooking, cleaning etc. There was not a thing out of place. Who was I trying to impress? My children who leave a trail of destruction wherever they go certainly didn’t care.
Everything that could go wrong did go wrong during this period, it was almost comical - from getting kicked out of our office to my eldest having to be picked up from kinder mid campaign shoot, to me getting sick and suffering from a terrible bout of insomnia, to the death of an old work colleague and legal phone calls being taken from bathroom stalls - what I learned was that I can rise to the challenge, but also sometimes, it’s ok if the kids have chicken nuggets for dinner so I don’t implode.
I also learned to ask for help, something I am notoriously bad at. I also realised the anticipation of a long period of solo parenting is far worse than the actual solo parenting. Working Mums, holy shit we’re stronger than anyone knows.
The lesson: a new found sense of confidence as a parent and deeper compassion for myself.
I launched a new business: Meet For Scale
For Scale is an end to end business advisory designed for consumer brands who are doing over $500k in revenue and looking to work with a group of expert coaches and advisors across the full breadth of business functions: from brand and marketing, to ecommerce and performance marketing, finance, cashflow, operations and supply chain, product development, organisation structure and culture, international expansion and retail.
I’ve been coaching founders for years and historically they have had to piece together advisors to get all of this knowledge that costs them upwards of $100k per year, but alongside three amazing women, we have built it into on program with two tiers of curriculum based on the business size at a much more affordable rate.
Each member gets access to weekly group coaching calls, 1x1 coaching calls, on demand video tutorials, "in office hours" where coaches are available online and founder meet ups. Most importantly they are part of a vetted cohort of founders and executives from non-competing businesses so they can build relationships and share openly in order to solve their business needs.
The program is designed to help businesses scale profitability, helping founders avoid the common pitfalls that greatly impact the P&L.
Launching this business has been two years in the making, originally launching as “Of Course” a series of educational offerings. What we learned was that people wanted to be part of a community with cohort based learning, so in my role as Head of Product at Willow & Blake, I began mapping out what the dream business community would look like, addressing all the pain points of the markets current offerings and bringing together expert level coaches from founder and executive roles across consumer brands I love and respect.
The result is For Scale and I couldn’t be prouder.
After all, a rising tide lifts all boats.
The result: An amazing response from founders all over the country, with a hugely impressive calibre of brands wanting to join the program. And the validation that this offer is exactly what founders need.
I officially commenced my role as ‘CMO at large’ with an amazing Australian brand that I have taken an equity position in.
Over the last 8 months I have been working closely with an Australian consumer brand to strategically reposition it for it’s next phase of growth.
I came on first as an advisor, then shareholder, then fractional CMO at large. It’s been a beautiful and exciting journey to reimagine this legacy brand alongside a wonderful, kind and collaborative CEO.
If you’re interested in learning more about negotiating equity to build your wealth - ask me in the comments.
More to be announced on the partnership next month.The lesson: You are worth whatever price you put on yourself.
We moved offices for Willow & Blake.
A very sudden and abrupt requirement to vacate our office with 2 days notice meant that while I was juggling solo parenting and work, I was also packing down 15 years of belongings. It was frustrating and sad. However…
The very next day we signed the heads of agreement on our dream office space; 15 years in the making, reminding me in the power of the universe.
We’re currently looking for a co-tenant for our beautiful heritage building in the Melbourne CBD.
The lesson: Manifestation is real. But we already knew that.
And lastly, I’ve been finalising the product and fundraising founds for my new consumer brand, launching in 2026.
This has been particularly exciting, with my Willow & Blake/frank body co-founder and best mate, Bree, joining for this next wild ride.
I had to go tools down on this project for about 8 weeks simply due to capacity, but once I picked it back up again things have moved full steam ahead.
It’s exciting to be at the beginning, once again creating something from the ground up but this time with so many valuable lessons already learned. I will pick up the deep dives on building this brand here on Substack, next focusing on how to outsource or hire, to whom and at what time.
I’ve been trying to do all of this in 3 days a week, maintaining my days with my kids and the truth is - it’s been really hard. I’ve had to work into all hours of the evening and first thing in the morning just to stay on top of it, as all of these great and not so great things collide.
I also find that as I move further and further through the postpartum period, my ambition soars, my creative side is firing and I can’t help but explore new ideas and projects.
I then find myself wrestling with Mum guilt about not being present enough for my kids (even when physically there I can find my mind wandering to work) and trying to have some more grace for myself. My logical brain knows I can’t be all things to all people. My emotional brain is still trying to catch up.
I, like every Mother, am a constant work in progress, learning and relearning who I am with all the evolutions of my children’s needs, personalities and desires. We like to think it’s us who teaches them, but in truth, it is us who continues to learn from these very cute, very loud little humans about the fundamental truth for all living things - that we never stop changing.
Now it’s time to accept my own changes, and own them.
With that in mind, I will temporarily pause my paid subscriptions until I have the time to write properly for you. I will focus on occasional free content for now.
J x
No posts
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.